Keith Alexander York – Drum Tutor

In addition to weekend teaching at Courtyard Music I am a music lecturer at Halesowen College having attained my teaching qualifications at the University of Worcester.

My first teaching role at Sandbach High School for Girls saw my jazz band pupils win first place at the National Schools Music Competition at The Albert Hall and my private pupils include Placebo drummer Steven Hewitt and Leon Cave who is the current recording and touring drummer with Status Quo.

My music industry experience as a touring and recording drummer includes contracts with record labels including Virgin, EMI, Geffen and Parlaphone. This work gave me the opportunity to visit over forty countries and record and tour with bands including The Lightning Seeds, Pitchshifter, Ladytron, Broadcast, Bentley Rhythm Ace and The Orb. My television and radio work includes appearing on Top of the Pops, Later with Jools Holland, and BBC John Peel radio sessions. I have played many large music festivals including Glastonbury, V festival, Reading/Leeds, Coachella (USA) and Montreux Jazz Festival.

In 1998 I worked with Peter Gabriel’s Real World Record label on his East meets West collaboration with Indian musician Ananda Shankar and in 2004 I was personally invited to be a guest musician by the British Consulate in China to showcase British music overseas.

I also enjoy promoting live music in the local community by playing in several pop, blues and jazz bands while teaching and mentoring young musicians in the area enabling me to help the next music generation achieve their education and employment goals.